Abstract:ObjectiveTo observe the anatomical relationship between the parotid duct and the buccal branch of facial nerve so as to provide an anatomical basis for the intraoperative use of parotid duct as a marker in facial nerve exploration.MethodsThe anatomic relationships between the parotid duct and the buccal branch of facial nerve, including the depth, angle and distance, were observed and measured in 42 patients undergoing benign tumor resection. ResultsAs for the depth, the buccal branch was located in the shallow surface of the parotid duct in 29 cases (69.05%, 29/42), the same level in 6 (14.29%, 6/42), and the deep surface in 7 (16.67% , 7/42). In terms of angle, the parotid duct was substantially parallel with the buccal branch in 76.19% (32/42), and apparently angled in 23.81% (10/42). On the measurement of distance from point where the nerve leaves the parotid gland, the upper buccal branch was located 0.2-1.0 cm above the parotid duct with an average of (0.61 ± 0.13) cm, and the lower buccal branch was located 0.2-1.5 cm below the duct with an average of (0.77 ± 0.27) cm.ConclusionThe anatomical relationship between the parotid duct and the facial nerve on the upper and lower buccal branches is relatively constant, which can be used as a marker for dissecting facial nerve in the surgery of parotid gland tumors.